THE SUBURBS.

Wal-Mart urged to include union

The Joliet City Council has approved a series of resolutions necessary for Wal-Mart to move ahead with building a second store in the city, but one hurdle remains.

The council still needs to approve a recording plat before construction can start on the far west side project. Some council members suggested the outcome of that vote will depend on how unions fare in landing construction contracts for the store.

The council voted 8-0 to approve the resolutions after a half-dozen speakers criticized Wal-Mart for its record on labor issues. About 100 people, representing three local unions, packed council chambers.

Joliet, which has seen an industrial- and manufacturing-based economy evolve into a retail and tourism economy, has been home to many union workers. Labor supported Mayor Arthur Schultz when he successfully sought re-election in April.

Wal-Mart, the nation's largest retailer and a non-union employer, has more than 1 million workers at 3,300 U.S. stores. The United Food and Commercial Workers Union is leading a national effort to organize workers at Wal-Mart stores.

"The Wal-Mart in Joliet should be the first place that Wal-Mart workers become union workers and achieve a union contract," said Jorge Ramirez, executive director of the union in Mt. Prospect. "Without a union contract, Wal-Mart can't be trusted to do the right thing."

Chris Danos, a real estate manager for Wal-Mart, said the company promises to bid the construction contracts fairly. He said that virtually all construction jobs in Will County are done by union workers.

"Wal-Mart is not anti-union," Danos said. "It is pro-customer."

Wal-Mart has operated a store on the city's near west side for about a decade.

After an hour discussion, the council voted to reclassify zoning for the 35-acre site at Theodore Street and Illinois Highway 59. The site, which the city annexed in 1989, will be zoned from industrial to business.

The council also approved plats for the site and an annexation for nearly 3 other acres. The property owner proposes creating 11 commercial lots, including the Wal-Mart.

Council members said they voted for the new store because it would generate construction jobs and tax dollars for schools. Schultz said Joliet Township High School District 204, which is facing a multi-million dollar deficit, would gain $49,000 in annual property tax revenue.

Wal-Mart proposes building a 150,000-square-foot store, with the ability to add 60,000 square feet. Construction could begin next year, and the store could open in 2005, Danos said.

The International Union of Operating Engineers, Local 150, based in Will County, endorsed the project because of the construction jobs it would create.

"I think if Wal-Mart had a chance to build it non-union, they would," said Councilman Mike Turk. "But they know that in Joliet, it is going to be union or the job will be shut down."